Philippines

You can become involved in children’s aid and education projects in the Philippines. This program has something to suit all skills and experience levels.

You have the opportunity to work in teaching, childcare, reading promotion, environment, school building and maintenance projects, and cultural exchange, centred in Romblon province.

While sharing your knowledge and compassion you will gain an in-depth experience of the country and its culture that will stay with you the rest of your life.

Programs

Children's Program

Volunteers are needed to help in Childcare Centres with children ages 3 to 5. You will work alongside the staff at the Centres to help with classroom teaching, basic childcare duties, and the daily running of the Daycare. Volunteers will teach the alphabet and basic concepts like colours, shapes, sizes, days of the week. Volunteers are also encouraged to organize subjects of interest such as art and crafts, dance, music, sports or games. This program is suitable for a caring, motivated and self-directed person who has a love for children and experience with childcare. This program is not available during April and May due to school holidays.

School Building Maintenance

Volunteers on the program will be doing manual building tasks. Your time will be spent repairing school buildings, painting roofs, walls, chalkboards, desks, teaching aids, and other equipment. Volunteers may help in the installation of water pumps, or help with the setting up of libraries. Volunteers can start by asking for donations of old books from families, friends, towns, parishes, and former schools. You can encourage the use of books by the students through class visitations and regular story-telling sessions. The objective is to introduce to public school students the joys of using a library, which most do not experience until college, if at all. Volunteers can spend up to one month on the School Building and Maintenance Program. If volunteers want to volunteer longer, they can join two or three programs options.

Environment Program

The Philippines is one of the world's biodiversity hot-spots. Volunteers have the chance to help out with these placements to promote environmental conservation. Volunteers help in several ways. Firstly, they operate a nursery for the propagation of mangrove seedlings. Secondly, they help reforest mangrove sites by planting. Thirdly, they also help in implementing the marine sanctuary project with regular patrols, beach clean-ups, and education on the needs and benefits of the project. This project has been set up by our partner in San Agustin (Romblon). The town's main economic activity is fishing but its traditional fishing grounds already show signs of fish stock depletion due to destructive fishing practices, such as the use of fine nets and dynamite fishing. This is now being countered by the establishment of a marine sanctuary between the villages of Carmen and Long Beach .

Teaching Program

Due to the lack of teachers in the Philippines, children are struggling to get quality education. Volunteers are needed to teach elementary and high school students in public schools. Subjects taught include English, maths, science, health, and basic computer skills (only in schools where computers are available). Volunteers have the chance to teach on their own, but there will be a local teacher available to assist if needed. This role is suitable for a caring, motivated, and self-directed person. A teaching qualification is not required but volunteers need to be confident in the above subjects and preferably have or be studying towards a university degree. This program is not available during April and May.

Program Cost

Application Fee US$97

Your application fee is fully transferable and will secure your place on the Philippines program, (or any other program of your choice), at a placement date that is suitable to you. *

* Your application fee provides you with access to any of our volunteer programs over the next 5 years, as many times as you like without having to pay another application fee!

Program Fee US$43 a day *

2 weeks - US $1597
4 weeks - US $1997
6 weeks - US $2197
8 weeks - US $2397

Placements longer than 8 weeks are available, please contact us or apply online for details.
* Based on an 8 week placement

What's included
- Home stay accommodation
- 3 meals daily
- Airport pick-up on arrival date
- In-country orientation and training
- In-country staff supervision
- Pre-departure personal support from your volunteer coordinator, 24/7 in-country support from partner, and 24hr emergency line.

What's not included
Flights, insurance, visas, vaccinations, transport to projects if necessary, departure from the program.

We recommend you allow a weekly budget of US $35 for your other expenses such as bottled water, personal items, beverages, and entertainment.

Program Schedule

Start Date: 1st of each month.
Volunteers are required to arrive before the start of the month they are volunteering in.
Length: 2 weeks - 6 months.

Please note that the Teaching program and Children's program is closed during April and May due to school holidays.

Volunteers will stay in Manila for the first two days for orientation (program, placement and volunteer work) and training (language, culture and history). On the third day, volunteers leave for their placements. Volunteers will have further orientations and local language training for three days before beginning volunteer work. The orientation and training will be conducted by staff of our partner organisation. Saturdays and Sundays are days off. Volunteers may use the weekends to explore the neighboring islands.